Peter Rabbit: Film Review

Peter Rabbit: Film Review

Cast: James Corden, Domnhall Gleeson, Rose Byrne, Margot Robbie, Elizabeth Debicki
Director: Will Gluck

The 2018 Peter Rabbit is a rapscallion, a cocky self-aware bunny who believes he is entitled to plunder from old man McGregor's garden in whatever manner he chooses.

However when the old boy pops his clogs (Ta Ta then, gruff Sam Neill barely in it), Peter thinks he's won.

But, as they say Peter has another think coming, when young man McGregor (Gleeson, tremendously game) shows up on the land.

Will Gluck's Peter Rabbit has energy to spare early on with the bounding battle of wits in the garden a cleverly engaging opening.

But as the film goes on and ensconces itself in a coat of cuteness and sentiment, it seems to adhere to the rules of a jealous threesome as Peter becomes angered by young McGregor's pursuit of kindly neighbour Bea (Byrne in a sort of perky thankless role).

What emerges is a curious mix of Home Alone cum rom-com as a series of silly gags and pratfalls take the place of any winsome interplay.

It works fine for those of a younger age with the charisma resorting solely to an over use of electrocution gags at one point to amuse.

But there's little beyond this for an older audience who may have been entranced by Potter's tales.

In fact as the animal anarchy rules supreme, it becomes clear that Peter Rabbit is more concerned with being here for a shallow amiable time rather than a reverence for its own material  - despite the wondrous and adept use of hand drawn illustrations throughout the CGI cartoonery..

It may be a Peter Rabbit for the times thanks to Corden's rambunctious tones and the script's fripperies, but sadly, it's not a Peter Rabbit for the ages.